Cards for Boys!

Card Cupid

is having a challenge on their blog this month to make and send in birthday cards for boys!

I had been putting together some CAS card to send in to Stephanie at Card Cupids,

so I merely left off any specific sentiment and, in that way, making possible for a parentor guardian to fill in the greeting whether it be

 "Happy Birthday", "Good Going", "Hang in there" or maybe just "Thinking of you"!

I packed up 9 of these such cards with envelopes and they'll go in the mail tomorrow.

I made it simple by using pre-printed images from K & Co, "A to Z" collection, along with matching papers which I had just won online!  I also used paper-punched buttons rather than real ones to make shipping cheaper and easier!

For those of you who are not familiar with this cause, the Card Cupid blog is dedicated to helping homeless kids in the Washington DC area.  So many of us have cards we make for other challenges or we simply love to make cards.  With these, you can give a child have a little brighter day!

Please check out their blog, and possibly even win a prize by entering your own creations! Make sure you send in at least one card for the cause! That's what makes it all possible!  They also take donations of all sorts; sporting goods, coloring books and crayons, etc.   Take a look! 

 Thanks, I know all of you have huge, giving hearts and would love to do something good for someone everyday!

((hugs))

DYSU Challenge #61 - Wings

For this week we have two great sponsors:

Winner's Choice of 6 Digital Images



6 copic ciao marker (North/South America)

Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world)

I couldn't resist using one of my favorite stamps
for this challenge! 

"Butterfly Kisses" from Craft's Meow

and of course, more of the gorgeous Fran*tage flakes and glitter from Stampendous!

Inside:

IRL, the stamped butterflies match the blue bird's egg flakes...
go figure....

You...absolutely SHINE!

Another card made with the Stampendous Fran*tage Embossing Glitters and Chunky Powders!

I stamped the chandelier image and embossed it with fine black embossing powder.

I added the Chunky Shabby Black Embossing powder along with some gold and silver crushed glass glitters mixed in to the corners of my image.  I found that if you hold the heat on the black embossing powder from the underside, it begins to soak into the cardstock and looks more like ink spots!  I like it!
After preparing my image, I distressed the backgound paper and the image, then attached the backgound to the black card base. 
I scrunched (is that a word?) some black tulle and place one piece behind the upper right-hand corner of the image.  I then glued the image down to the card. To balance out the card, I scrunched (there's that word again) more black tulle, and placed it in the lower left-hand corner, finishing it off with a large rhinestone. 
The fun part was carefully applying all those little pink pearl and rhinestone accents to the chandelier.   The flames are just a small touch of gold Stickles. 
To give my card a sentiment, I stamped YOU in black ink twice, glittering the first with Aged Rose, and used it as a shadow effect for the second.  This was cut from the "Thank You" sentiment in the Stampendous Happy Messages stamp set.  I only recently got brave enough to cut up my acrylic sentiment stamps...still makes me a bit nervous!

The inside reads, "absolutely SHINE!"

This next photo better shows the sparkle and glitter of the card!

Well, my goal today was to get my scrap room organized,

so I had better get back to work.

I need a poster that reads,

"I'd rather be Frantaging!"

Have  a great weekend!

The Alley Way's Blog Hop and New Release!

Today it is not about me and my creations.

It is all about Alison and her fabulous new stamps! 

 (Click on link below)

If you haven't checked it out yet, you absolutely HAVE to go to

The Alley Way

 and see what she has just released!

http://www.thealleywaystamps.blogspot.com/

There are NOT 3, NOT 5, BUT 10 count them 10 new sets from The Alley Way Stamps that you can buy on March 1st in her shop.  BUT WAIT!! That's not all.. on MARCH 1st they have ANOTHER HUGE Surprise for you :) Don't you just love surprises..? You want to go back each week day, for the next 4 days to see more creations from the TAWS DT.. you won't want to miss this..

So many ways to win some very cool stamps!

I know I am totally in love with these darling little images!

Can't wait to see what her TAWS DT creates!

So, go now!

The Alley Way Stamps Blog

and tell Alison I said hi!

Tea Time!

Being the tea lover that I am, nothing makes me happier than making a card with a "tea" theme! Everything we see out there has coffee, java, latte, etc., but it's rare that you find a  great tea stamp or die!  I finally purchased the Spellbinder "Nested Tea Cups" die, and couldn't wait to use it!

The challenge inspiration photo at The Shabby Tea Room this week made me squeal!

"High Tea"

I only recently discovered this blog, and I have to tell ya,

it's perfect for those of us who prefer our tea!

So, after getting my inspiration from this and sitting down with a nice hot cuppa chai tea,

I made this little card.

The second requirement was to use a doily....
well, don't we always? 
LOL!

The little swirl of steam holding the sentiment is a coated wire paper clip.

Thanks for looking. Please leave a comment!

Off for my evening cup of hot tea and a long warm bubble bath...

Glittered "Buttons"

The "Make It Monday" Challenge at Papertrey Ink's blog this week demonstrates the technique of glittering our buttons, both real and die cut.

I love using my Buttons Boutique Dies and card stamp, so this was no chore.

Here is my card. I'll let you judge for yourself how you feel about adding the glitter...

I am out of spray adhesive, so I had to brush on the ol' white liquid glue. I don't know if that's why I didn't get such a great coverage with the glitter, but I had intentionally wanted to maintain the color and pattern of my buttons

(both the real one and those I had punched out of the pattern papers)

The technique was intersting, but not sure how often I will use it. 

I guess I'm more of a purest when it comes to my button embellishments!

No matter, I still dearly love the Button Boutique button card die and stamps and will be happy to send this pretty little card to a friend!

Check out this challenge and all of the "Make It Monday" tips and techniques!

DYSU Challenge #60- Distress It!*

Winner's Choice of 7 Digital Images

£10 voucher

Winner's Choice of 5 Digital Images

Also, all participants will receive a Digi Darla code for a free stamp set just for participating in the challenge this week!

I was fortunate enough to recieve this wonderfully hilarious image from Bugaboo Stamps!

Aren't they adorable?

The big craze is interactive cards, so I made mine in an old-school interactive fashion...

But I couldn't bring myself to use the second phrase that comes with the image...

(and wives need mute buttons)

This card will go to a friend when they most need a pick-me-up. 

I just have to sit back and wait, and some hubby/boyfriend will mess up and I'll send this to make the wife/girlfriend feel much better!  :)

Inside of card:

See? Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

Another close-up of the front flap....

Have a good day, and check out the rest of the
Do You Stack Up
Design Team's projects!
Make your own card and win some great digi's!

This card is also entered in the challenges at:
The Sisterhood of Crafters (Digital image)
Creative Card Crew (Masculine)
Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps (No Embossing)

Just Rite Challenge-Part 2

Here is my second entry for the challenge over at

Just Rite Inspiration!

This time, I chose to flip the sketch on its' side, and use a sentiment stamp rather than an image.

The sentement was heat embossed in Stampendous' Dark Bark. It's a really rich brown that makes everything a bit more vintage and elegant!

The lace, pearls, and Prima paper and flower lends a soft touch to the card.

And I always love a cute charm!!

This card will also be entered into the challenges at:

Totally Gorjuss (Lace)

Shopping Our Stash (Butterfly)

Paper Variety (Green/Photo Inspiration)
For Your Inspiration (Green/Photo)
Sentimental Sundays (focus on Sentiment)
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge (Charmed)
Cutie Pie Challenge (Flower)
Creatalicious Challenges (Lace)

Just Rite Challenge #066

I have been anxious to get out some of my
Just Rite stamps

and get them all inky!

This week's challenge was just the right motivation!

A close-up of the gorgeous Just Rite stamp from Shabby Chic Labels Four.

This is being entered in the sketch challenges at

Just Rite Inspiration.

Southern Girls Challenge (Distressed)

By the Cute and Girly (Love)

DYSU Challenge #59- LAYERS!

For this week we have three great sponsors:


Winner's Choice of 2 Digital Stamps

$10 Gift Certificate

$20 Gift Certificate

Now we're talkin'!
I love working with layers!

I've have just recently gotten comfortable with piling it on, and I love the styles of the famous cardmakers who just load it up!

And you might note that many of the design team members have two projects to showcase this week! Whee!  One of those is ME!

One of the images I received to work with was from
Little Miss Muffet
 "Saffron"
  Isn't she cute?

My first center step card!
I paper pieced her coat, scarf, and hat.  I then added some Stampendous Shabby White embossing powder, and used a tiny, tiny ruffle peeking out from under her coat!
As troublesome as making a step card can be, I think they really make a card stand out!

For anyone who's curious, I simply finished the inside with a sentiment and strip of matching papers.

I also entered this card in the challenges at :
Little Miss Muffet Stamps
Ribbon Carousel Challenge
Fab n Funky Challenges (Try Something New)


My second card was with a
Tickled Pink image,
"Stefan",
or as he has been nicknamed here at my house,
"the little surfer dude".

Yes, you're seeing more of the Stampendous chunky embossing powders and crushed glass.  I am soooo addicted to that stuff!  Doesn't it make some amazing sand, though?

And a close up of the image...  Note that the sunglasses have Glossy Accents on the lenses.  Also, I have to chuckle every time I see that tiny little band-aid on his leg!
Yep, part of the image!  Cute, huh?

The brown satin ribbon was a great addition to the popped-up 3-D flip-flops, and his paper pieced surf board would be the envy of any surfer!  Hang 10, Dude!

Thanks for looking, and please, leave a comment and become a follower!
I'd love to know you were here!

Now, GO and check out the rest of the team's projects!
CUTE!!!

This card is also entered at:
Stampendous Impressions (Texture)
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards (Color Challenge)
Card Cupids (Inspiration for Kids)
Creative Card Crew (Masculine)

Stampendous Glitter and Shine!

I have a friend with a birthday coming up and she is, let's just say, a bit sensitive about her age.  I found this quote and thought of her immediately.  And what better way to frame such a perfect quote?  An embossed Stampendous frame with bits of glitter and shine, of course!

This month's challenge at Stampendous is to add TEXTURE.  Well, this card has a touch of every type of texture I could think of! 

The paper is from My Mind's Eye, Lush collection, the gorgeous flocked black stripe.

It gives the card such a rich, elegant feel. The sentiment is Fiskars.

 I stamped the Jumbo Cameo Frame onto gold Bazzill cardstock and embossed it with the Dark Bark embossing powder. 

The touches of blue, pink, and green were done with the embossing glitters.

IRL you can still see the centers of the small flowers that encircle the frame.

The really fun part was sandwiching the stamped sentiment between the card base and the striped paper. 

I used fine cream linen to stamp the sentiment, trimmed,

and then stapled it directly onto a tablet back.

This provided the stablility I needed to then attach

it to the card base with pop dots.

The front of the card (with the circle cut out) was then glued to the front of the sentiment. 

The black brads were the perfect answer to making sure it was good and secure!

And I think they also add a touch more vintage to the project!

This is possibly the HEAVIEST card I have ever made.

Thank goodness it will be hand delivered!

Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge!

Skipping Stones Design has a great sketch this week!

Here's my take on it:

All the stamping was done with elements from 

Skipping Stones'  "Everyday Blessings" stamp set.

The die cut circle behind the bird (not the white paper doily) was done by repeatedly stamping and heat embossing the wreath pattern in the stamp set,

and then cutting it out with the

Spellbinders "Blossom" Nestie.

Then I cut another just one size smaller inside the first.

That provided me with the scallop circle that I threaded the ribbon through. Does that make sense?  LOL!

If that wasn't confusing enough, I also cut a section of the heat embossed wreath to make a little popped out "nest" for the bird.

This is also the first time I have stamped a

sentiment on ribbon!

Wow, that Staz-On truly works wonderfully for that!

The background paper is Prima. 

They make some of the most gorgeous, romantic stacks!

The embossing powder is Stampendous Extra Fine Bark and is my new favorite embossing powder! 

Thanks, Jennifer, for enabling my addiction once again! LOL!

Hope you enjoyed this lengthy, however somewhat entertaining, post!

Please leave a comment so I know I'm not out here alone!